We spend an average of 2 hours a day doing household chores. That’s 56 hours a month, 672 hours a year cleaning the house. If we fall behind on these chores, it often takes even longer to catch up.
How you clean and what you use can make a big difference. Instead of spending hours vacuuming, you could outsource that to a robot, for example. You could spend less time scrubbing the tub or even if you have stronger cleaning products.
Which are the best house cleaning products to use? Well, you’ve come to the right place. After searching countless reviews and testing them out for ourselves, we have a list of real time-saving cleaning products. Among our picks, we focus on user-friendly and environmentally-friendly products.
Must-Have House Cleaning Products
These are the basic tools you should have before you start cleaning.
Microfiber Cloths
Washcloths should only belong in the bathroom for cleaning your body. These were never meant to clean counters and tables. The versatility of the microfiber cloth rivals the sponge.
If you purchase microfiber cleaning clothes rated for kitchen use, you’re going to save yourself a lot of time. They pick up dust, dirt, and liquids better than any other fabric. It absorbs eight times its weight in liquids, which is why they leave streak-free surfaces.
Robot Vacuums
The cost of a robot vacuum has come down significantly over the past 3-4 years. What used to cost you $600-800 is now found for $200 or less. We want to preface this by saying that while the Roombas are nice, they’re not the best.
There’s a lot of competition out there, but all robot vacuums are pretty capable these days. The ones that have the ability to save a layout of your home are the most efficient. Also, robot vacuums work best with low pile carpeting and laminate/vinyl/hardwood floors.
Swiffer WetJet
If a robot vacuum is still out of your price range, go for the Swiffer. If you can’t get a robot vacuum that also mops, get a Swiffer WetJet, too. Mopping floors is a real time-killer.
The best floors for a Swiffer WetJet are laminate and vinyl. These surfaces are the easiest to clean without needing special cleaners, i.e. hardwood or quartz. The WetJet is so easy to use that a child could do it and do a good job.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Speaking of children, this is going to save you a lot of money on paint. The Magic Erase is almost too good to be true. It can scrub off every crayon, paint spatter, or non-permanent marker without leaving a trace.
The Magic Eraser is also clutch for those random shoe scuffs on the baseboards or walls. There’s a long list of uses of the magic eraser, outside of healing white surfaces.
Power Scrubber
Scrubbing the bathroom and shower tiles is a real pain. If you’re doing it right, you’ll come out stiff and sore and on the verge of hiring a maid. Most of this is due to the difficulty of reaching and getting leverage.
With a spinning scrub brush, you get the job done in a fraction of the time. These aren’t even expensive tools, as they’re mainly dialed-down power drills. In fact, many veteran cleaners started this trend by attaching brushes to their drills.
If your tiles can handle it, there’s no better scrub than a power drill with a hard brush attachment.
Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
Cleaning the house usually involves cleaning metal knobs, decorations, and jewelry if you’re really efficient. Getting these smaller items clean is difficult. Sometimes soaking them in vinegar and baking soda doesn’t do the job.
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners clean with a specially-formulated cleaner with high-frequency waves to remove all residue in seconds. Going the DIY route, you have to pay special attention to how different metals react to specific cleaners. This is one less chore to worry about.
Dusters
This is another huge occupant of time spent cleaning. Dusting is a never-ending battle, especially if there’s a smoker. Pick up one of the recommended air purifiers for smoke before dusting.
Next, grab a bottle of no-wax dust spray to go with your microfiber cloths. This will greatly improve your dusting time. Endust is a great brand for removing dust while protecting your surfaces. These are hypoallergenic formulas that are great for those with asthma or weakened immune systems.
Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Boxes
Sorry, dog owners, you can’t train Fido to use a litter box that cleans itself. For the cat owners out there: this is a game-changer. Scooping out the litter box isn’t necessarily a tough job, as long as you do it daily.
The fact that litter boxes can sometimes smell like a wasteland is motivation enough to clean it more often. Self-cleaning litter boxes reduce the potential build-up of excrements. For multiple cat-owners, this also reduces the amount of litter wasted, as scooping keeps the surface area at maximum.
Citrus Oil Degreasers
We saved the best for last. Rather than tell you to go out and buy a dishwasher, we want to introduce the magic bullet. Products like Goo Gone and other citrus cleaners will reduce the amount of prep work needed. This will also make cleaning the stove, microwave, and tile grout a piece of cake.
These degreasers are safe, they smell great, and last a long time, as you don’t need a lot to clean.
More Game-Changers
If you liked this list of the best house cleaning products, there’s plenty more out there. Whether you call them “life hacks” or game-changers, maximizing your productivity is a win. Spend more time enjoying life than working.
Time is money, so learn how to properly manage it at Let’s Be Game Changers. They have guides just like this one that shows you how to save money and spend it wisely. Start with this guide on how to prepare yourself mentally and financially for the future.